A number of top technology executives representing the Internet Association submitted a letter this week to leaders of the House of Representatives calling for quick passage of the Innovation Act of 2015. CEOs of Etsy, Gilt, Google, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Rackspace, TripAdvisor, Twitter, Yahoo and Yelp are among those urging politicians to pass the patent-reform bill this summer. The letter explains that these execs have “direct experience of the negative consequences of the patent troll business model on our economy.” Continue reading Tech Industry Presses Government to Address Patent Reform

Comcast announced that it plans to launch a trial of its IP-based video service Stream by the end of the summer in Boston, followed by Chicago and Seattle. The $15-per-month streaming service will offer about a dozen broadcast networks and HBO. Subscribers will have access to some TV Everywhere applications, Streampix for movies and a cloud DVR service. As an add-on to broadband service meant for PCs, laptops and mobile devices, customers will need Comcast Internet service to subscribe. The company is planning a nationwide rollout for early next year. Continue reading Comcast Plans Streaming TV Service as an Alternative to Cable

Microsoft plans to release Windows 10 as a free upgrade and with new PCs and tablets starting July 29. To celebrate the launch, the company will host fan celebration parties in 13 cities around the world that will feature hands-on demonstrations, live entertainment and interaction with developers from the Windows team. A related global ad campaign will launch next week. The Windows 10 release is also part of Microsoft’s year-long Upgrade Your World initiative “to celebrate those who inspire and empower others.” Continue reading Microsoft Aims to Upgrade Your World with Windows 10 Launch

Amazon’s new Fling SDK helps mobile developers create second screen and Cast-like functionality for iOS and Android apps, essentially simplifying the “network discovery and communication technologies” around Fire TV, according to the company. “Flinging” (Amazon’s version of Chromecast’s “casting”) is a means of sending video, audio or images from an app to a television screen via the Fire TV player. Amazon is targeting developers already using Chromecast by offering the ability to integrate Amazon’s SDK with existing Chromecast apps. Continue reading Amazon Releases Fling SDK, New Competition for Chromecast

Antitrust regulators are reportedly taking a preliminary look at whether Apple’s business model for selling streaming music apps may be illegal under current antitrust law. While the company now has its own music streaming service, Apple also takes a 30 percent cut of in-app purchases through its App Store for competing services such as Jango, Rhapsody and Spotify. According to industry sources, the Federal Trade Commission has not announced a formal investigation, but has started to look into the issue by meeting with concerned parties. Continue reading FTC Examines Apple’s 30 Percent Charge for Rival Music Apps

According to an Ipsos study commissioned by Google, younger moviegoers are more inclined to watch movie trailers on YouTube than on television. While 54 percent of respondents age 13-24 indicated they are more likely to watch trailers via YouTube, an impressive 65 percent said that trailers they watch on YouTube will influence what films they end up seeing in theaters. In addition, a related study from Google and Millward Brown Digital found that 81 percent of moviegoers age 18-64 who watch movie trailers online turn to YouTube as well. Continue reading Movie Trailers Popular on YouTube, Mobile Viewing on the Rise

Meerkat has launched a new real-time video feature called Cameo that allows users to invite friends on the mobile app to take over their live streams. The new feature could lead to an interesting opportunity for brands to work with celebrities and social influencers. For example, a company such as Red Bull could promote upcoming livestreams with their sponsored extreme-sports athletes. Fox, Hulu, MasterCard, Southwest Airlines and The Weather Channel are among those already signed up to use Cameo. Continue reading New Meerkat Feature Makes Real-Time Video More Interactive

After investing $1 million to acquire Aereo’s customer lists and trademarks, TiVo has begun pitching former subscribers of the defunct streaming service. TiVo is marketing its Roamio over-the-air DVR (via email bearing Aereo’s logo) as a service “conceived, developed and introduced for people just like you.” The current offer is $19.99 per month with a two-year commitment — $5 more per month than TiVo’s usual offer (and $12 more than the original Aereo service), but the hardware is being offered for free. “The devices together allow customers to record live antenna TV and watch on multiple devices — that is, if you already own an antenna,” notes The Wall Street Journal.

The Apple-Spotify relationship could face new pressure after Spotify began distributing emails recommending that users avoid buying subscriptions to the streaming service through Apple’s app store. The subscriptions run $13 through Apple, compared to $10 on Spotify’s website. Apple charges a 30 percent cut in a model that many companies rely upon to get their products to consumers. “The emails explained how to cancel the app store subscriptions and sign up on the Spotify website,” reports Bloomberg. “Apple doesn’t encourage this kind of thing. The company forbids any buttons or links within apps that could allow people to buy things externally that they would otherwise purchase through the app.”

According to mobile analytics startup Mixpanel, more than 38 percent of iOS mobile devices are now running iOS 8.4, Apple’s latest mobile operating system. That means a growing number of consumers now have access to a free trial of the new Apple Music service, reports VentureBeat. “Dangerous for Spotify,” said Suhail Doshi, Mixpanel’s chief exec. “That’s hundreds of millions of people who can get a free three-month trial with Apple Music.” While Spotify recently expanded to include videos and podcasts for its 75 million users, Apple Music could prove to be a threat to existing music services such as Spotify and Rdio.

For those who may be questioning the growing value of YouTube celebrities, you may be interested to learn that 24-year-old Felix Kjellberg (aka PewDiePie) of Sweden now has 37.7 million subscribers on YouTube, while PewDiePie Productions generated about $7.4 million in revenue last year. According to Engadget, Kjellberg made $4 million the year before by “playing video games, recording his reactions and uploading the resulting videos to YouTube.” Kjellberg has defended himself following social media backlash by noting his many charitable contributions. In addition, he claims his “bro army” (fans) raised more than $1 million for various charities.

Netflix is ready to expand its original content beyond TV series to feature films. First, the service will release Cary Fukunaga’s “Beasts of No Nation” on October 16. The film will debut via Netflix and select U.S. theaters, which will make it eligible for industry awards. On December 11, Netflix will release “The Ridiculous Six,” the first of four Adam Sandler films it plans to distribute. And in Q1 2016, the sequel “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Legend” will be released globally on Netflix, theatrically in China and on IMAX. Continue reading Netflix Looking to Build its Brand with Original Feature Films

Showtime’s over-the-top streaming service, which provides on-demand access to the premium cable network’s content and live East and West Coast feeds, is now available to consumers. The service is offered for $10.99 per month for subscriptions on Apple mobile devices including iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, in addition to Apple TV, PlayStation Vue and Roku. Hulu customers can add the new service to their current subscription for $8.99 per month, reports TechCrunch. All are offering a 30-day free trial subscription. The service’s launch is coinciding with the July 12th season debuts of Showtime originals “Ray Donovan” and “Masters of Sex.”

On July 12, GoPro will debut Hero4 Session, its latest action-video camera, priced at $399 and featuring a dramatically different form factor: a 1.5-inch cube that weighs only 2.6 ounces, with one button for on and off. In addition, GoPro founder Nick Woodman has announced the company’s expansion into virtual reality with a 16-camera array for an as-of-yet undisclosed price, to debut in August. Scheduled for next year, GoPro also plans to launch a quadcopter drone with built-in GoPro camera. Continue reading GoPro Unveils Smaller Hero Camera, Plans for VR and Drone

Virtual reality and marketing is a match made in heaven, say many VR experts, but so far very few examples of that pairing have come to pass. OnlyInVR CEO Michael Hodson hopes to change that with videos for the tourism and travel industry. His company’s videos have already been big hits at trade shows, he claims, and he lists STA Travel and the Aspen Chamber of Commerce among his clients. He also shows off VR tours of New York, Las Vegas and Venice, Italy optimized for Samsung’s Gear VR. Continue reading OnlyInVR Sells Immersive Videos to Tourism, Travel Clients